Torch



w. A. -sPARKsA TORCH Filed Jan. 2a. 195o May 19, 1953 INVENTOR. Mavim A.SPA/exs.

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Patented May 19, 1953 TORCH Warren A. Sparks, Long Beach, Calif.,assigner to John M.v Henry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 140,981

(Cl. 15S-27.4)

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to torches, and more particularly to oxyacetylenetorches of the trigger type.

While there have been proposed various acetylone torches operated upon.the snap of a trigger to strike a striker against the int to light theacetylene name, it is believed that heretofore no one has successfullyproposed such a trigger operation bullt into the torch for oxyacetyleneuse. In the use of an oxyacetylene torch, however, it is necessary tofirst ignite the pure acetylene flame and thereafter to supply to theacetylene flame the oxygen supply, and accordingly, it is a feature ofthis invention that upon initial actuation of the trigger mechanism, thesupply of acetylene is turned onand thereafter the strike of the flintis made, but prior to the opening of the passage for the supply ofoxygen, thus assuring that the acetyiene ame is ignited prior tosupplying oxygen thereto.

`It is, accordingly, one obj-ect of this invention to provide anoxya'cetylene torch having a trigger action for igniting the flame. 2

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an oxyacetylenetorch in which means is provided for ilrst turning on the supply ofacetylene, secondly ignlting the acetylene llame, and lastly turning onthe supply of oxygen.

1n achieving'these objects, novel valve means hereinafter described havebeen invented and it is, accordingly, one object of this invention toprovide such novel valve means capable of sequentially supplying initialflow of acetylene and then yoxygenand thereafter concurrently supplyingacetylene and oxygen to the torch.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the annexed specification in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through a torch embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 4is a left side view of the device shown in Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is .a section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line A-- of Figure l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the Vnumeral I ilindicates a body member which,` as shown particularly in Figure 3,15channel shaped in cross section, having legs I I and I2. The lower edgesof the legs II and i2 are curved as at I3l to provide a hand grip andbetween the two legs there is pivotally mounted. a trigger member itmounted upon afpin I5. The trigger member I4 is, itself, preferablychannel shaped, as shown in Figure 3, and has a corresponding roundedlower surface it for ease of gripping by the hand of the operator. Thebody portion l0 has a web I1 which is bored throughout its length as atI8. Intermediate its ends, the web portion I1 has its lower half cutaway, forming an opening I9.

Thev body portion Iii, toward the left hand side is enlarged to form acircular member 20. The circular member 20' is shown as provided with ahub 2l on one side, and a hub 22 on the other side.

The circular member 2li is provided with a pair of bores 23 and 24, andis tapped at 25 and 26 to receive the members 21 and 28 to which theacetylene and oxygen supply tubes, respectively, are attached.Transversely the circular inember 20 is bored and tapped to receive theneedle valves 29 and 30 which regulate the rate of supply of acetyleneand oxygen, respectively. 0- rings 3l are provided for sealing theneedle valves. Thebore 2'4 is aligned with and communicates with thebore I8 in the web l1. The bore 23 traverses the hubs 2l and 22 and onits right hand side is tapped as at 32 to receive a tube 33 whichcommunicates with the bore 23 and is itself aflixed in an opening 34 inthe web l1. The bore I8 at its farthest left hand extremity is tapped asat 35-to receive the threads of a short length of tubing 36 which ispositioned within the bore as shown in Figure 1. A further tube 31having an enlarged boss or ring 38 disposed cen-v traily thereon isdisposed in the bore I8 with .a portion extending into the tube 36, asshown ln Figure l. To the right of the tube 31, a further tube 38 isdisposed Within the bore I8 and a portion of the tube 31 extends intothe tube 39, and the left hand side of the tube 39 engages the boss 38,as shown. The tube 39v is bored as at 40 to receive the inner end of thetube 33 and thus acetylene from the member 21, the bore 23 and the tube33' is passed to the interior ofthe tube t9. T'o the right of the tube39, a tube M is located in the bore I8. A piston 42 is provided havingone end extending into the tube 4I to the left of the opening I9 and theother end extending into a tube 43 to the right of the opening I9. Thetube 43 is located in the bore I S, as shown in Figure l. Piston #l2 hasan enlarged portion or collar 44 located in the opening I9. The piston42 is itself provided with a central bore 45 and a pair of sealingOerings 45 and -41 are provided in grooves in the piston to seal thesame to the tubes 4I and 43, respectively. A transverse bore 481sprovided toward the left Vend of the piston 42 communicating with thecentral bore 45. The web I1 terminates at 50 and a tube 5| provided witha reduced end 52 is positioned beyond this termination with the reducedend 52 received within the tube 43 and sealed thereto by an 0- ring 53.At its right end, the tube is tapped as at 54 to receive the burner tube55. The burner tube 55 is supported at 54 and in rounded portions 56 and51 in the upper walls of the legs and I2, as shown in Figure 4. The tube5| has a central bore 58 communicating the interior of the tube 43 andthe interior of the burner` tube 55. The tube 55 is bored as at 60 toprovide a spark opening.

A shaft or pin 6| is journalled in the legs and l2 and carries a pinionB2 and a striker or steel 63. A second pin 64 is mounted in the walls I|and |2 and slidably supports a rack 65. The rack 65 is carried by a rod66 which is provided with a pin 61 for retaining a coil spring 68mounted thereon. A Ypin 69 extends across the two legs of the channelshaped trigger |6 and carries a peg 18 which peg 'I0 is adapted tosupport the left end of the coil spring 68. The peg is terminated shortof the left end of the rod 66 to normally leave a clearance between thetwo, as shown in Figure 1.

A tube 80 is mounted between the two sides or legs I and I2 and receivesa rod or post 8|. The

rod or post 8| is integral with a cross member 82 which also ycarries afurther rod 83 and a thumb knob 84. The rod 83 has affixed to its lefthand end one end of a coil spring 85, the other end of which is affixedto a pin 86 carried by the two arms of the channel shaped trigger memberI6, as shown in Figure 3. A piston-like int member 90 is positionedwithin the tube 8| and adapted to be engaged by the striker wheel 63.

A pin 9| is mounted between the two legs Il and I2 and pivotally mountsa bell Icrank or lever 92 having one leg engaging the collar 44 and theother leg engaging the upper periphery 93 of the trigger I6.

The operation of the above described device is as follows:

Assuming :that oxygen and acetylene tubes have been attached to themembers 28 and 21, respectively, and it is desired to operate the torch,the operator merely seizes the same in one hand with his fingers wrappedabout the trigger I6. Depressing the trigger I6 causes the same to pivotabout the pivot point |5 and to compress the coil spring 68. After thecoil spring 68 has been compressed suiiiciently to overcome theresistance of the flint against the striker wheel 63 caused by the coilspring 85, the rod 66 and consequently the rack 65 will be forciblymoved to the right with a snap action. coincidentally, the pinion 62 andthe striker wheel will be revolved, the striker wheel 63 throwing aspark from the flint 90 through the bore 60 into the combustion tube 55.Suflcient air is admitted into the combustion tube through the opening60 to promote ignition.

While the above described operations are being carried out, the bellcrank or lever 92 has been engaged by the trigger and pivoted in acounterclockwise direction, thus moving the piston 42 to the left. Theleft end of the piston 42 engages a rod |00. The rod |00 is positionedwithin an enlarged bore |0| in a, tube |02. Tube |02 y is provided witha'collar |03 received between the tubes 39 and 4|. The rod |00 towardits left end is provided with an enlarged head |04 to the right of whichthere is applied a rubber sealing ring 4 |05 adapted to seat against theleft end of the tube |02. The rod |00 has an extension |06 upon which ismounted one end of a coil spring |01 which coil spring is mounted withinthe tube 39. Movement of the piston 42 to the left causes the same toforce the rod |00 to the left, thus unsealing the sealing ring |05 fromthe tube |02. The enlarged head |04 and the sealing ring |05 are oflesser external diameter than. the interior diameter of the tube 39 andthus acetylene supplied to the interior of the tube 39 by the tube 33 ispermitted to enter the clearance within the bore l0| and hence throughthe transverse bore 48 to the bore 45 ofthe piston. From the bore 45,the acetylene passes through the bore 58 into the interior of the tube55.

A second rod |I0 similar to the rod |00 is provided, located mostlywithin the tube I3'I but having one end extending beyond the tube 31 toreceive the other end of the coil spring |01. The rod ||0 is likewiseprovided with an enlarged head and a sealing ring ||2 adapted to engagethe left end of the tube 31 and seal the same. A coil spring I 3 isprovided in the tube 36 having one end abutting the enlarged portion 20and the other end abutting the enlarged head Further movement of thepiston 42 to the left will cause the left end of the rod |00' to engagethe right end of the rod ||0 and move the same to the left, thusunseating the sealing ring |2 from the tube 31 and permitting oxygen topass through the member 28 to the bore 24, the tubes 36 and 31 and tothe interior of the tube 39. Thus, it will be noted that the sequence ofoperal tions is rst the opening of a supply of acetylene to the burnertube, second a movement ofthe striker against the flint to ignite theacetylene, and lastly an opening of the supply of oxygen to the burnertube for the creation of an oxygen acetylene flame. If it is desired toextinguish the flame, a mere release -of the trigger I6 will cause thePiston 42 to move to the right under the force of the coil springs andI3, and thus close the passages for the supply of acetylene and oxygen.

If the ilint becomes worn out, it is only necessary for the operator toseize the thumb knob 84 and pull the same to the right against the forceof the spring 85 until the rod 8| is removed from the tube 80, at whichtime a new flint can be inserted therein and the device reassembled.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the essence of the invention and it isintended to cover Iherein all such changes and modifications that comewithin the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A torch comprising: a body; a burner tube; a trigger; a int andstriker; lresilient means biasing said ilint against said striker;resilient means connecting said trigger and said striker and Operable tosnap said striker against said flint on compression sucient to overcomethe resistance of said flint against said striker to ignite gas in saidburner tube; said body having a longitudinal bore;` a piston slidable insaid bore and operably associated with said trigger; said piston ybeing.provided with a longitudinalgas passage; a conduit for supplyingacetylene to said bore; a valve seat in said bore; a valveassociated'with said Valve seat and having a stem;

said stem being engageable by said piston upon actuation of said triggerto unseat said valve; a spring normally biasing said valve against saidseat; a second valve seat -in said bore having an by on actuation ofsaid trigger said rst valve is opened to4 rst admit acetylene to saidburner tube, said flint is next sparked to ignite said acetylene andsaid second valve is then opened to admit oxygen to said burner tube.

2. A vtorch comprising: a body; a burner tube; a trigger; a flint andstriker; resilient means biasing said flint against said striker;resilient means connecting said trigger and said striker and operable tosnap said striker against said flint on compression suflicient toovercome the resistance of said flint against said striker to ignite gasin :said burner tube; said body having a. longitudinal bore; a pistonslidable in said bore and operably associated with said trigger; saidpiston -being provided with a longitudinal gas passage; a conduit forsupplying acetylene to said bore; a valve `seat in said bore; a valveassociated with said valve seat and having a stem; said stem beingengageable by said piston upon actuation of said trigger to unseat saidvalve; a spring normally biasing said valve against said seat; a secondvalve seat in said bore having an opening communicating with said rstvalve seat; a second valve associated with said second valve seat andhaving a stem engageable upon further movement of said piston by saidrst valve to unseat said second valve; a second spring normally biasingsaid second valve toward closed position; a conduit for supplying oxygento said bore on the inlet side of said second valve, whereby onactuation of said trigger said first valve is opened to first admitacetylene to sai-d burner tube, said flint is next sparked to ignitesaid acetylene and said second valve is then opened to admit oxygen tosaid burner tube; and auxiliary valve means for regulating theproportions of oxygen and acetylene thus supplied to said burner tube.

WARREN A. SPARKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber4 Name Date 1,463,518 Thomas July 31, 1923 1,685,633 Heybach Sept.25, 1928 1,810,158 Campbell June 16, 1931 2,127,723 Fausek Aug. 23,1938y 2,365,379 Black Dec. 19, 1944 2,477,917 Wilson Aug. 2, 19492,506,114 Sparks May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,921France Oct. 24, 1914

